Celtic have been fined over “provocative” anti-monarchy banners displayed by their fans at a Champions League match less than a week after the Queen’s death.
One banner spotted among the Hoops’ section of the ground in their match against Ukrainian side Shakhtar Donetsk in Poland last month stated ‘f*** the crown’. Another read ‘Sorry For Your Loss Michael Fagan,’ a reference to a man who broke into the Queen’s bedroom in 1982.
The Scottish champions have been fined 15,000 euros (just over £13,000) by UEFA’s control, ethics and disciplinary body over what was described as “a message not fit for a sporting event (ie a provocative banner)”. Celtic were also fined 4,250 euros (£3,733) for the lighting of fireworks at a home Champions League match against Real Madrid on September 6.
BT Sport were forced to apologise after the banner was visible during their coverage of the game, which took place at the Polish Army Stadium in Warsaw. Shakhtar have been playing their home games outside their home country as the war in Ukraine continues.
The match took place the week after the Queen died at the age of 96. While a number of matches were postponed, including the full league programme in England and all professional games in Scotland, continental ties mostly proceeded as planned.
Commentator Rob McLean apologised to viewers offended by the banner. Meanwhile, Sky Sports, who broadcast Celtic's league game against St Mirren on September 18, issued an apology of their own after anti-Royal Family chants were heard and banners were visible.
"Apologies if you were offended by anything you might have heard. Most people showed respect some did not," Sky commentator Ian Crocker said.
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Celtic's game against Shakhtar ended all square, with Mihaylo Mudryk equalising for the Ukrainian side after an own goal put the visitors ahead. Ange Postecoglou's side now sit bottom of their group after three games, having lost at home to Real Madrid and away to RB Leipzig either side of the game in Poland.
"I will abide by whatever regulations there are," Celtic manager Postecoglou said before the Shakhtar game. "I’m not the keeper of people’s obligations. We live in a society where people can express their own values in any way they want. I will be doing it my way and my club will do it our way, and everyone else can do what they like.”
The Scottish champions will host RB Leipzig this week, and will be desperate for a win to revive their chances of reaching the last 16. Last week's meeting was level going into the final half-hour before an Andre Silva double settled the tie, and Postecoglou expects a similarly close game.
“Looking at the group as well, for both teams it’s a game where a win is going to be fairly significant," he said. “So, in the nature of both football clubs, I don’t think it will be an open game, but I think it will be a pretty quick game – it’ll be exciting. If we put in a good performance, there’s a good chance we’ll get a good result.
